Late last week I posted on Halloween safety myths about poison candy and sex offenders, but now that all-hallows’-eve is approaching, it might also be good to go over some basic Halloween safety tips that will help you and your children have a fun time this Saturday night.
Set Clear Rules
As parents it’s important to set clear rules and expectations for your children on Halloween night.
- Set a clear curfew
- Agree on a trick-or-treating route so you will know where your children are
- Know what parties and places your children will be
Tricks
Halloween seems to be the one time of year that good kids think it’s okay to do bad things. Talk to your children about the consequences of vandalism, graffiti, theft, or destruction of property. Smashing pumpkins, stealing candy from smaller children, egging houses/cars, and other destructive acts may seem harmless to inexperienced kids, but they could have far-reaching consequences, emotionally for the victims and legally for the perpetrators. Keep your children out of trouble by clearly letting them know about the consequences of their actions.
Costumes
It’s fun to dress up on Halloween, but some costumes can present safety hazards if they are overly cumbersome, awkward, or restrict a child’s vision. These costumes can present a tripping hazard or prevent children from seeing well enough to avoid dangerous objects in the dark. No child wants to sprain an ankle on Halloween and go home early without collecting all the candy booty they can. As well, make sure that any props (fake knives, swords, sticks, etc.) the children carry are soft or pliable enough to not cause injury if they are fallen upon.
Image courtesy of the US Comsumer Product Safety Commision
Safety
Because so many children and families will be out in the dark on Halloween night, basic safety tips are even more important.
- Make sure younger children are always accompanied by an adult or teenaged sibling with a flashlight
- Look both ways before you cross the street
- Wear reflective clothing or carry a glow stick to alert drivers to your presence
Overall, it’s simply important to make sure that you and your children exercise good judgment and follow basic safe guidelines, so you can all have a good time.
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